Ever notice how swiftly the world can roll over on a team, especially when it thought it was on top of it?

Just 11 days ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were the only undefeated team in the NFL at 9-0, in charge of their own fate. Then they went to Denver and were dismissed like schoolboys by Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

Fair enough. If the Broncos are not the best team in the league, at least they are in the conversation. The feeling in Kansas City was, wait til we get them back at our place on Dec. 1.

Unfortunately, in between those two dates with destiny, the San Diego Chargers came to Arrowhead Stadium and not only stole a win but left the Chiefs’ vaunted defence in disarray.

Within a few minutes of each other, in the second quarter, KC lost two of its defensive linchpins in linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.

With the Chiefs leading 14-3 at that point, Chargers’ QB Philip Rivers proceeded to score 38 points in just over one half, more than any team had scored against the Chiefs in an entire game to that point. How dominant were the Chargers? How about this: Rivers completed 11 of 13 passes for 199 yards ... on third down plays alone.

Before Houston’s injury, the Chargers scored just three points, gaining five first downs and 136 yards in 27 plays (5.04 yards per play). After his injury, the Chargers scored 38 points, gaining 19 first downs and 355 yards in 40 plays (8.88 yards per play).

Now there is a very real chance that neither Houston nor Hali will be in uniform on Sunday when the Broncos present themselves at Arrowhead for the rematch. If the Broncos win again and stretch the Chiefs’ losing streak to three games, all the suggestions that Kansas City’s early record was really a house of cards will start to have some validity.

Hali has an ankle sprain and may yet suit up this week but he’ll be far from 100%. Houston has a dislocated elbow that might keep him out for an extended period.

The Chiefs have made a remarkable turnaround from the two-win team of 2012 but they don’t have the kind of quality depth that would allow them to absorb these kinds of injuries. When they left Denver a week ago Sunday, they felt they still would get the job done at home. Now that’s going to be a tall order.

Giant Mistake

In the days leading up to their crucial confrontation against the Cowboys last week, the New York Giants were all bombast and bullfeathers, threatening a bloodbath at Dallas’ expense.

Turned out it was all talk and no substance.

Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said there will be “a lot of blood spilled out there” and a few days later Terrell Thomas not only guaranteed a Giants victory, he suggested that the Cowboys should put his words on their bulletin board.

After Dallas prevailed 23-20, Dallas defender Jason Hatcher put red ink on his face and crowed “I just finished eating a Giant and there’s some leftover blood. They said blood was going to be shed, right?”

Giants coach Tom Coughlan was irritated that his team would have engaged in such juvenile behaviour.

“We’ve never been a team that has been one to provide bulletin-board material,” said Coughlan. “I understand there was a little bit of that last week and I don’t believe in any of that. As a matter of fact, I speak out very strongly against it.”

Added Dallas cornerback Orlando Scandrick: “I’ve never in my life heard a team that was 4-6 talk like that. We were 5-5, and we knew we had no room to talk.”

Now the Cowboys must turn things around in a hurry and not look beyond the Oakland Raiders who are in Texas for the Thanksgiving Day game.

“I don’t see a letdown,” said Dallas owner Jerry Jones. “I just see a workmanlike preparation, get out here, get ready to play the game, try to get physically ready to go and be ready. The next week gives you a 10-day break and that’s been, over the years, real good for us.”

Quick Kicks

Green Bay fans are not advised to get their immediate hopes up but Aaron Rodgers did practice with his Packer teammates Tuesday as they get ready for the Thanksgiving game in Detroit Thursday. Rodgers is recovering from a fractured collarbone. “He had a good day,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “This was a big day actually for him as far as throwing and hitting the targets that the staff wanted. So he feels good, but I don’t think he’s going to make it this week.” ..... The 49ers are expecting to welcome Michael Crabtree back into their lineup this week when they host St. Louis. Crabtree suffered a torn achilles and underwent surgery in May. .... To the surprise of no one, the Eagles have named Nick Foles the starterting QB going forward. He has won three in a row and has thrown 16 TDs with 0 interceptions. The decision has the support of Michael Vick. “I trust what’s going on, I enjoy being a part of it, I love the game of football in general,” said Vick. “So it’s important to me to be there in support and be ready if my name and number is called again.”

THE BIGGEST LOSER

As we head into a tight stretch run in the ‘Race For No. 1,’ it appears to be anybody’s ball game.

Yes, there are multiple candidates vying to earn the right to pick No. 1 in the 2014 draft and all they have to do is keep losing to win.

With a little luck (bad or good, depending how you look at it) any one of 10 teams could come away with the big prize. What is truly surprising is that two of the frontrunners, both with only two victories, are the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans. Jacksonville also sits coming off last Sunday’s victory at Houston and Minnesota, both are also at two wins.

Between them, the Texans and Falcons won 25 games in 2012, plus one playoff win each. This year, their combined win total is four.

Those four teams have the edge at this point, but there are six other teams at four wins or less, ready to jump up if their rivals start winning.

“I can assure you this: We’re not concerned about our draft status,” Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. “We’re concerned about winning the next game and putting a string together here at the end of the season.”

The consensus big prize in the draft is South Carolina defensive star Jadeveon Clowney but there are also several quarterbacks, including Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel available to the biggest loser.

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Hobbled Chiefs suddenly looking vulnerable

Ever notice how swiftly the world can roll over on a team, especially when it thought it was on top of it?

Just 11 days ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were the only undefeated team in the NFL at 9-0, in charge of their own fate. Then they went to Denver and were dismissed like schoolboys by Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

Fair enough. If the Broncos are not the best team in the league, at least they are in the conversation. The feeling in Kansas City was, wait til we get them back at our place on Dec. 1.

Unfortunately, in between those two dates with destiny, the San Diego Chargers came to Arrowhead Stadium and not only stole a win but left the Chiefs’ vaunted defence in disarray.

Within a few minutes of each other, in the second quarter, KC lost two of its defensive linchpins in linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.